(tm)
TALES ACROSS THE WATERS
The Triumvirat Electronic Newsletter
Issue #2
November 23, 1996
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= = = = = A Service to the Internet from The Triumvirat Homepage! = = = = = =
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(Editor's Note: Portions of this issue have been edited to reflect updated information,
or to correct mistakes in the information presented. We have done this to insure that you receive the most accurate information possible. Thanks ! 11/98)
IN THIS ISSUE
=============
FROM THE AUTHORS
- Excerpt from Hans Bathelt Letter
- Russ's Update
- Jim's Notes
WANTED
- Where to find Triumvirat CD's ?
- We want tapes of your rarities !
COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATION
- Corrections from Manfred
- Triumvirat's "ALA CARTE"
- A Sound All Their Own
- Spartacus Lyrics !
- More about Spartacus
- German Translation Correction
- Rare Triumvirat Singles
- New Book Mentions Triumvirat
- Microsoft Plus Theme for Windows 95
- RE: Obscure Bands
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES AND CONTACT INFORMATION
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= FROM THE AUTHORS =
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The entire contents of this interview/letter are (Copyright)
(c) 1996, Russ Shaw
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
for Tales Across The Waters,
Jim Bradley and Russ Shaw, Editors
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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=>Excerpt from Hans Bathelt Letter
==================================
As the previous issue [Issue #1] of TATW went to press, Russ received a
long letter from Triumvirat Co-founder Hans Bathelt. He has been very kind
to provide us with additional information, as well as answers many questions
that we have had regarding the band. Hans has seen all of the information
that is available at The Triumvirat Homepage, and says, "...you have done a
very good job concerning the research of our biography. For example, the
discography is absolutely correct." We are pleased and honored to have his
assistance in our work here, and will continue to keep in touch with him.
Here is a excerpt from his letter:
"Jürgen Fritz, Werner Frangenberg and myself formed the group in 1969. Before
we had been playing top 40 stuff in various local bands in Cologne. Our
material (as Triumvirat) was strongly influenced by the English group "The
Nice". In fact we played some of their songs (like for example "Rondo").
Werner left in 1970. He was a student of mathematics and played in another
dance band and did not have enough time to release with Triumvirat.
"Hans Pape joined us on bass and vocals. Vocals was very important because
neither Jürgen, Werner or me could really sing. (Hans Pape did the vocals on
Med. Tales except one song Jürgen did. I did not sing at all.)
"In these days we started writing our own material. As Jürgen got classical
training and was the best musician of the group, our material was strongly
classically influenced. Being fans of "The Nice", we loved it when "ELP" got
together and Jürgen was always strongly influenced by Keith Emerson's style
(which was great).
"In these days EMI in Cologne was looking for German groups. So we sent in a
tape and got a record deal. We had no management so Jürgen would do the work.
He was in the Cologne music school while Hans Pape and me were working in the
daytime for companies in Cologne. Jürgen did the bookings also organizing
equipment and so on.
"Shortly after our first recording "Mediterranean Tales", Hans Pape left. The
reason was simple: he has just gotten married and his wife didn't want him to
quit his steady job and go on tour.
"We quickly found a very good replacement in Helmut Köllen. Helmut was the
cousin of Jürgen Fritz. A few years older than Jürgen, Helmut was a car
mechanic and had played part-time in various Cologne bands like we all did
before. Helmut played bass, guitar, and had a very good voice.
"We toured in Germany and started to work soon on the next album "Illusions".
The record company gave us more studio time and we were really proud when it
came out. It was released in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and had
reasonable success. Critics liked it, we got airplay on German radio stations,
and toured again. In the spring of 1974 we were desperate because the big
breakthrough was obviously not to come.
[To Be Continued in the Next Issue of TATW...]
Best Regards from Cologne,
Take Care
Hans
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This interview/letter is exclusive to Tales Across The Waters,
The Triumvirat Electronic Newsletter.
If you see this interview or any portion appear anywhere else,
please let me know ( russ@triumvirat.net ).
THIS INTERVIEW HAS NOT HIT THE PRINT MEDIUM.
PLEASE DON'T EXPOSE YOURSELF TO LITIGATION BY POSTING IT ELSEWHERE
(EITHER THROUGH ELECTRONIC OR PRINT MEANS). Thank you.
Interview is (c) 1996 Russ Shaw. All Rights Reserved.
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=>Russ's Update
=============
Hello everybody!
A record importer in Miami sold me a CD called "Unknown Deustchland",
on Virgin Records, import from Britain. c 1996. It's a compilation of
progressive/art rock from Cologne's art schools, etc. from 1972-1974,
for $22 US. Expensive but worth every penny.
Here are the bands represented:
Golem
Temple
Cozmic Corridors (the best)
The Astral Army
Gallactic Explorers
Fuerrote
Very spacy, prog "dream" rock!
It is a great CD from beginning to end! It's great for me, because I
especially like that Cologne sound! The notes are by Trevor Manawaring.
I have heard that name, who is he?
Russ
Triumvirat Homepage Author
russ@triumvirat.net
=>Jim's Notes
===========
Greetings Friends !
Phew ! It's been a busy month so far ! A very special "Thank You" to
everyone that has contributed, assisted, informed, corrected, and generally
cheered us on !
The Links page has been updated, with more musical sites for you to visit.
And there are a number of corrections, additions, replacements, and all around
changes to many of the web pages here at the site, especially the Discography
page. Don't forget to stop by The Picture Gallery ! The problem with viewing
the LSE pictures has been corrected, and there are 7 new images available. They
include Black and White images of the covers of "Illusions on a Double Dimple" and
"Spartacus", 3 early group photos, and a recent photo of Matthias Holtmann from SDR3 radio Germany. Most of the changes on the web site are from the
information that is in this issue of the newsletter, as well as some that will be
in the next issue. If you haven't browsed around the web site in awhile, now
might be a good time to check it out. And yes, more changes and updates are on
their way.
Si-wan records of Korea released "Ala Carte" on CD this past October.
They had previously released "Old Loves Die Hard" in June. More information
on Si-wan records, including how to contact them, are in this issue !(Warning: we do not recommend buying this release. It was recorded from a scratched vinyl LP, not from the the master tapes ! Details ? See tatw Issue #6 ! 11/98)
I'd like to take another moment of your time to mention a music source
on the Internet. Not an advertisement, just a personal commentary. In their
own words, The Artist Shop is "...a music store dedicated to the independent
artist putting out his/her own product. The items we display we buy directly
from the artist or his/her own company. When you buy from these artists you
can take pride in the knowledge that more of your dollar is going directly to
the artist than when you buy from a mainstream, corporate, big business,
big bucks, impersonal, conglomerate label. And that means you're investing
in the future of these artists and their continued creation of new work."
Artists associated with them include King Crimson, Mike Pinder (formerly
of the Moody Blues), Geoff Downes (Buggles, Yes, Asia), Synergy, and many
others. The Artist Shop also presents IRC chat sessions on the Internet with
various artists. Recently, they held a chat session with Trey Gunn. The
Internet continues to show that it can provide new avenues of expression.
And a place that provides a service such as this, deserves recognition. I
have a link to their Web site on our links page, or simply point your web
browser to: http://www.artist-shop.com .
I hope you enjoy this issue of the newsletter as much as I enjoyed putting
it together for you. Have a Great Day !
Peace
Jim Bradley
TATW Editor
jim@triumvirat.net
* * * * * * * * * * *
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= WANTED =
----------
=>Where to find Triumvirat CD's ?
===============================
Where have you found, or have seen, Triumvirat CD's at ? Some people are
having trouble finding them. There are a few suggestions in later in this
issue of the newsletter, but you might have the information that someone else
needs to find it conveniently. What CD did you find? And where did you find
it ? Support retailers that keep progressive rock CD's in stock !
=>We want tapes of your rarities !
====================
Well, we only want copies of them, okay? Thanks to you, we have
discovered Triumvirat recordings that we were previously unaware of. Know
something we don't know? Share it with us ! Let us know what you've got.
Send to Russ Shaw ( russ@triumvirat.net )
* * * * * * * * * * *
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= COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATION =
==============================
=>Corrections from Manfred
========================
By reading through the TATW Newsletter I found a few minor mistakes.
Jürgen F. does not own "Köln Pool". This is a company which is doing
promotion and management (i.e. the Thekenschlampen) in the Cologne area. They
have actually really nothing to do with Jürgen (except that he was the producer
of the Thekenschlampen). L.S.E. and the Thekenschl. are not the most successful
German act (unfortunately...). But they are very well known and successful in
the Cologne/Rhine area. And the spelling of M.Holtmanns show and e-mail-address
was incorrect. It has to be "Extraspaet" (with a T).
Greetings
Manfred
=>Triumvirat's "ALA CARTE"
========================
From: "Mariano L. Mazal"
Please find attached the answer that I've got back from the Korean company
which is selling the "A la Carte" Triumvirat CD. I'm going to buy it ASAP!
Let's keep in touch,
Mariano
>Hi,
>Thanks for your interest in Si-wan Records.
>About your order... the price of A la carte CD by Triumvirat is 22 USD
>plus tax and shipping and handling.(30 US dollars total) If you send
>the money order to Si-wan Records, I'll send the CD right away.
>The address : "Si-Wan Records"
> 609 Bloor st. west Toronto
> Ontario M6G 1K5 Canada
>The phone :(416) 532-2690
>Thanks again!
>
>Kookhee
>General Manager[Editor's Note: WARNING ! We do not recommend purchasing the Si-Wan
releases. For details on Si-Wan, please see TATW Issue #6]
=> A Sound All Their Own
=====================
Derivative? You bet! A cheap German "Emerson, Lake & Palmer"? Possibly...
But there's no denying that these guys did some great music and developed a
sound all their own! Unfortunately, I can't find any of their stuff on CD
(to replace my aging record collection) so I'd appreciate info on where to
obtain it. You can also rest-assured that you'll be hearing from me in
future...
Regards,
Brett Tiesmaki
Banff, Alberta
Canada
T0l 0C0
=>Spartacus Lyrics !
==================
From: Dirk Evans, INTERNET:dirk@triumvirat.net
My copy of Spartacus is an American copy.
Here are the complete Spartacus lyrics:
Spartacus lyrics
(Editor's note: The lyrics are now available on the web at:
www.triumvirat.net/spartacus.htm 10/98 )
=>More about Spartacus
====================
From: Dirk Evans, INTERNET:dirk@triumvirat.net
There is no picture of the Fog Flyers on my "Spartacus". I had never seen
them before until you posted the pictures on the web.
One side of the sleeve has the lyrics. The other side list the group
members, who wrote what songs, engineers etc. It may be interesting to
note that Spartacus was recorded between February 3 and March 4, 1975.
Only 4 weeks!!!
It is also worth noting that the Mixing Engineer was Geoff Emerick. He
was also the engineer of "Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" and
"Abbey Road". I know that he has done many other really incredible albums
but I would have to peruse some more of my albums to find which ones. The
engineer really makes a difference in the end result of an album. Two of
the truly greatest albums ever done were engineered by Alan Parsons -
"Dark Side of the Moon"(1973) and "Ambrosia - Ambrosia"(1974). Alan
Parsons also did some engineering for the Beatles circa '68-69.
=>German Translation Correction
=============================
From: "Alexander Schoene",
Hi,
Just a note on the side. When I read through the biography section of
the Triumvirat homepage I noticed a minor mistake. The correct German
title of the film Jürgen Fritz did the music for is "Es ist nicht
leicht ein Gott zu sein". According to the movie database the title
of the English release was "Hard to be a god". The movie database
also mentions a second movie he did the music for, but I forgot the
title.
If there is anything in my scope that I can help you with, feel free to ask
me (I'm still negatively surprised that Matthias Holtman didn't seem
to be very willing in helping you out)
Bye
Alex
=>Rare Triumvirat Singles
=======================
Thanks to Hans & Franz I learned of rare T'rat singles that do not exist
on any T'rt album. They are mostly from the Hans Pape period exc. "Take A
break...) w/ Helmut
Harvest 45 rpm releases
Dancer's Delight b/w Timothy 1971
Ride In The Night b/w Sing Me A Song 1972
Be Home For Tea b/w Broken Mirror (from "Med. Tales") 1972
Duplicity b/w Bad Deal (from "Illusions.."0\)1974
Take A Break Today b/w ??? (from "Spartacus" sessions 1975)
Russ
=>New Book Mentions Triumvirat
============================
From: Don Breithaupt, INTERNET:gdolphin@globalserve.net
Hi:
Here's some info on my new book (we mention Triumvirat in our
Progressive Rock chapter). ILLUSIONS ON A DOUBLE DIMPLE was a big LP
for me!
Don Breithaupt
Toronto
<gdolphin@globalserve.net>
"PRECIOUS AND FEW: POP MUSIC IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES"
By Don Breithaupt and Jeff Breithaupt
Publication Date: November 1, 1996
St. Martin's Griffin (New York) - $9.95 U.S.
McClelland & Stewart (Toronto) - $13.99 Can.
ISBN: 0-312-14704-X
ORDERS:
PRECIOUS AND FEW can be ordered directly from Publishers Book and
Audio at 1-800-288-2131, online at http://www.amazon.com (at $8.95
U.S.), or from your local bookstore.
AUTHORS:
Three-time Juno Award nominee Don Breithaupt is the man behind Monkey
House, the Canadian band whose 1992 Aquarius/EMI debut included three
Top 20 hits. He lives in Toronto.
Jeff Breithaupt is the Director of Sponsorship for the New York City
Opera and a Trustee of Paul Newman's new Blue Light Theater Co. He
lives in New York City.
QUOTE:
"We do not intend to apologize for the seventies. We know the decade
was an orgy of ridiculous trends, facile sloganeering and blow-dried,
self-involved, edible-underwear-munching talk show guests. The thing
is, those strange days produced a bumper crop of great popular music."
CHAPTERS INCLUDE:
The Long, Unwinding Road
SOLO BEATLES
Revoluncheon
LATE SIXTIES CONTINUED
Dancing in the Moonlight
SEVENTIES POP
How Sweet It Was
THE TWILIGHT OF MOTOWN
Global Village
WORLD RHYTHMS
What's So Funny 'bout Peace, Love and Understanding?
UTOPIAN POP
Earth Shoes
FOLK POP
Richard Nixon's Greatest Hits
SOCIALLY AWARE POP
Planet of the Apes
HARD ROCK
Unsung Heroes
INSTRUMENTALS
Play Misty for Me
JAZZ POP
Art Attack
PROGRESSIVE ROCK
Appendix: Grammy Nominees and Winners, 1971-75
Bibliography
Index
SAMPLE LIST OF SONGS:
BAND ON THE RUN
REELING IN THE YEARS
RIDERS ON THE STORM
FREE MAN IN PARIS
MAGGIE MAY
LUCKY MAN
ROCK ON
BENNIE AND THE JETS
SPACE ODDITY
FRANKENSTEIN
MONEY
BLOODY WELL RIGHT
DOMINO
IMAGINE
SIGNS
LIVING IN THE PAST
STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
PEACE TRAIN
LOVE IS THE DRUG
HEART OF GOLD
AUTOBAHN
NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN
HELLO IT'S ME
FAME
BANG A GONG
PHOTOGRAPH
KILLER QUEEN
RADAR LOVE
CAT'S IN THE CRADLE
DOCTOR MY EYES
ROUNDABOUT
BORN TO RUN
DAY AFTER DAY
LONG COOL WOMAN
PEOPLE GOTTA MOVE
SUPERSTITION
[Editors Note: If you happen to read this book, send us a review and we will
publish it here in the Newsletter]
=>Microsoft Plus Theme for Windows 95
===================================
Hi,
I've been in Triumvirat's home Page some days ago and I just loved it!
I love Triumvirat! I got so excited that I made a MS Plus! Theme, with lots
of sounds, animated cursors etc. If you or anybody else want it I can send
by e-mail. It takes 1.2M .
By,
Andrea
andrea@microlink.com.br Brazil
=>RE: Obscure Bands
=================
Great first issue.
I can't believe I found you guys!!!!!!
I have been a fan since ILLUSIONS.
Thought I'd see what the WEB has on TOMMY BOLIN and presto...I ended
up at Triumvirat!!!
I'm pretty sure my CANADIAN copy of SPARTACUS has the lyrics on it.
Will uncrate it tomorrow to check it out. No..I still listen to it. I
just use my tapes now. Gotta preserve that precious vinyl.
RE:OBSCURE BANDS
Also, "HORSLIPS" I didn't think anybody had heard of them. Unfortunately all
I have is one 8-Track of theirs. GROAN.
How about AMON DUEL.
Early TULL is great. "TO CRY YOU A SONG" still gives me the chills.
ILLUSIONS/SPARTACUS 6 of 1 and a half dozen of the other. They are both
fantastic albums.
Keep up the good work!
Zane :>
...................................
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THE ADDRESSES
=============
Send your submissions for publication to: Jim Bradley ( jim@triumvirat.net ) or
to Russ Shaw at ( russ@triumvirat.net ).
Editors:
========
Russ Shaw russ@triumvirat.net
Jim Bradley jim@triumvirat.net
The Triumvirat Homepage World Wide Web Site:
http://www.triumvirat.netTales Across the Waters Online Triumvirat News site:
http://www.triumivrat.net/tatw
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| WHEN SUBMITTING ANY INFORMATION FOR INCLUSION IN TATW, PLEASE INCLUDE:
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| - date and location of interviews, appearances, etc. (if applicable)
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| DO NOT SUBMIT COPYRIGHTED ARTICLES, INTERVIEWS OR LIKE MATERIAL |UNLESS YOU
| PROVIDE THE EDITORS WITH AUTHORIZATION FROM THE COPYRIGHT |HOLDER TO DO SO. OTHERWISE THEY WILL NOT BE INCLUDED.
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| The views expressed within Tales Across The Water are the opinions of the
| individual contributors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the
| contributor's provider of the online service, employer, or school.
| These views also in no way reflect the views of the band, or the editorial staff unless
| otherwise stated.
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Tales Across The Waters, (c) 1996 The Triumvirat Homepage, Russ Shaw,
and Jim Bradley. All Rights Reserved.
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END OF TALES ACROSS THE WATERS #2
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